蛛后之战(被遗忘的国度系列英文版)-第75章

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　night's　sending　back　on　she　who　cast　the　curse。
Yet　Quenthel　had　found　she　wasn't　quite　ready　to　share　in　the　general　optimism。　Yes；　she'd　turned　an　attack　back　on　its　source；　but　that　didn't　necessarily　mean　her　faceless　enemy　had　succumbed　to　the　demon's　attentions。　The　spellcaster　could　have　survived；　and　if　so；　she　could　keep　right　on　dispatching　her　unearthly　assassins。
From　the　sound　of　it；　another　such　had　just　broken　in；　and　Quenthel　didn't　have　another　little　bone　wand。
For　a　moment；　the　Baenre　felt　a　surge　of　fear；　perhaps　even　despair；　and　she　swallowed　it　down。
〃Follow　me；〃　she　snapped。
Perhaps　her　subordinates　would　prove　of　some　use　for　a　change。
Their　tread　silent　in　their　enchanted　boots；　the　priestesses　trotted　in　the　direction　of　the　noise。　Greenish　torchlight　splashed　their　shadows　on　the　walls。　Parchment　rattled　as　one　novice　fumbled　open　a　scroll。　Female　voices　began　to　shout。　Power　reddened　the　air　for　an　instant　and　brushed　a　gritty；　pricking　feeling　across　the　priestesses'　skin。
〃It's　not　a　demon；〃　said　Yngoth；　twisting　up　from　the　whip　handle　to　place　his　eyes　on　a　level　with　Quenthel's　own。　Her　stride　made　his　scaly　wedge　of　a　head　bob　up　and　down。
〃No？〃　she　asked。　〃Has　my　enemy　e　to　continue　our　duel　in　person？〃
She　hoped　so。　With　her　minions　at　her　back；　Quenthel　would　have　a　good　chance　of　crushing　the　arrogant　fool。
But　alas；　it　wasn't　so。　Her　course　led　her　to　the　entry　hall　with　the　spider　statues。　The　poor　battered　valves　hung　breached　and　crooked　once　again。　This　time　the　culprit　was　a　huge；　disembodied；　luminous　hand；　floating　open　with　fingers　up　as　if　signaling　someone　to　halt。　A　lanky　male　in　a　baggy　cloak　had　taken　shelter　behind　the　translucent　manifestation　from　the　spears　and　arrows　that　several　priestesses　were　sending　his　way。
Quenthel　sighed；　because　she　knew　the　lunatic；　and　he　couldn't　possibly　be　her　unknown　foe。　By　all　accounts；　he'd　been　too　busy　down　in　the　city　the　past　few　days。
She　gestured　with　the　whip；　terminating　the　barrage　of　missiles。
〃Master　Mizzrym；〃　she　called。　〃You　pound　your　crimes　by　breaking　in　where　no　male　may　e　unbidden。〃
Pharaun　bent　low　in　obeisance。　He　looked　winded；　and；　most　peculiarly　for　such　a　notorious　dandy；　disheveled。
〃Mistress；　I　beg　your　pardon；　but　I　must　confer　with　you。　Time　is　of　the　essence。〃
〃I　have　little　to　say　to　you　except　to　condemn　you　as　the　Archmage　should　have　done。〃
〃Kill　me　if　you　must。〃　The　giant　hand　winked　out　of　existence　and　he　continued；　〃Given　my　recent　peccadilloes；　I　half　expected　it。　But　hear　my　message　first。　The　undercreatures　are　rebelling。〃
Quenthel　narrowed　her　eyes　and　asked；　〃The　Archmage　sent　you　here　with　this　news？〃
〃Alas；〃　the　mage　replied；　〃I　was　unable　to　locate　him　but　knew　this　was　something　that　must　be　brought　to　the　attention　of　the　most　senior　members　of　the　Academy。　I　realize　no　one　ever　dreamed　it　could　happen；　but　it　has。　Walk　to　the　verge　of　the　plateau　with　me；　and　you'll　see。〃
The　Baenre　frowned。　Pharaun's　manner　was　too　presumptuous　by　half；　yet　something　in　it　manded　attention。
〃Very　well；〃　she　said；　〃but　if　this　is　some　sort　of　demented　jest；　you'll　suffer　for　it。〃
〃Mistress；〃　Minolin　said；　〃he　may　want　to　lead　you　into—〃
Quenthel　silenced　the　fool　with　a　cold　stare；　then　turned　back　to　Pharaun。
〃Lead　on；　Master　of　Sorcere。〃
In　point　of　fact；　the　high　priestess　didn't　have　to　walk　all　the　way　to　the　dropoff　to　tell　that　something　was　badly　wrong　in　the　city　below。　The　wavering　yellow　glare　of　firelight　and　a　foul　smoky　tang　in　the　air　alerted　her　as　soon　as　she　stepped　outside　the　spidershaped　temple。　Heedless　of　her　dignity；　she　sprinted　for　the　edge；　and　Pharaun　scrambled　to　keep　up　with　her。
Below　her；　portions　of　Menzoberranzan—portions　of　the　stone；　how　could　that　be？—were　in　flames。　Impossibly；　even　the　Great　Mound　of　the　Baenre　sprouted　a　tuft　of　flame　at　its　highest　point；　like　a　tassel　on　a　hat。　Once　Quenthel's　eyes　adjusted　to　the　dazzling　brightness；　she　could　vaguely　make　out　the　mobs　rampaging　through　the　streets　and　plazas。
〃You　see；〃　said　Pharaun；　〃that's　why　I　ran　halfway　across　the　city；　dodging　marauders　at　every　turn；　to　reach　you；　my　lady。　If　I　may　say　so；　the　situation's　even　worse　than　it　may　look。　By　and　large；　the　nobles　haven't　even　begun　reclaiming　the　streets。　They're　bogged　down　on　their　estates　fighting　their　own　household　goblins。　Therefore；　I　suggest　you—〃
The　mage　was　smart　enough　to　stop　talking　at　the　sight　of　Quenthel's　glare。
〃We　will　mobilize　Tier　Breche；〃　she　said。　〃MeleeMagthere　and　ArachTinilith　can　fight。　Sorcere　will　divide　its　efforts　between　supporting　us　and　extinguishing　the　fires。　You　will　either　find　my　brother　Gromph　or　act　in　his　stead。〃
Pharaun　bowed　low。
Quenthel　turned　and　saw　that　her　priestesses　and　novices　had　followed　her　out　onto　the　plateau。　Something　in　their　manner　brought　her　up　short。
〃Mistress；〃　said　longeared　Viconia　Agrach　Dyrr；　one　of　the　senior　instructors；　rather　diffidently；　〃it　makes　perfect　sense　for　MeleeMagthere　and　Sorcere　to　descend　the　stairs；　but　。。。〃
〃But　you　ladies　have　lost　your　magic；〃　Pharaun　said。
The　sisters　of　the　temple　gaped　at　him。
〃You　know？〃　Quenthel　asked。
〃A　good　many　males　know；〃　the　mage　replied；　just　a　hint　of　impatience　peeking　through；　〃so　there's　no　point　in　killing　me　for　it。　I'll　explain　it　all　later。〃　He　turned　back　toward　the　rest　of　the　clerics。　〃Holy　Mothers　and　Sisters；　while　you　may　have　lost　your　spells；　you　have　scrolls；　talismans；　and　the　rest　of　the　divine　implements　your　order　hoards。　You　can　swing　maces；　if　it　es　to　that。　You　can　fight。〃
〃But　we've　lost　too　many　sisters；〃　Viconia　said　to　Quenthel。　〃The　demons　killed　a　couple；　and　you；　Mistress；　by　summoning　the　spiders；　slew　more。　We　don't　dare　risk　the　rest。　Someone　must　endure　to　preserve　the　lore　and　perform　the　rituals。〃
〃That's　far　too　optimistic；〃　Pharaun　said。
Viconia　scowled。　〃What　is；　boy？〃
〃The　assumption　that；　should　you　remain　up　here；　annihilation　will　pass　you　by；〃　the　wizard　replied。　〃It's　more　plausible　to　assume　that　if　the　ores　triumph　below；　they'll　climb　the　stairs　to　continue　their　depredations　up　here。　You　profess　devotion　to　ArachTinilith。　Surely　it　would　be　more　reverent　to　engage　the　undercreatures　in　the　vault　below　and　thus　deny　them　the　slightest　opportunity　to　profane　your　shrines　and　altars。　Similarly；　it　would　be　better　strategy　to　fight　alongside　allies　than　to　wait　till　they　perish　and　you're　left　to　struggle　alone。〃
〃You're　glib；　wizard；〃　the　Agrach　Dyrr　priestess　sneered；　〃but　you　don't　know　our　efforts　are　needed。　Flame　and　glare；　they're　only　goblins　I　think　you're　just　a　scareling。〃
〃Perhaps　he　is；〃　Quenthel　said；　〃but　how　dare　we　seek　the　Dark　Mother's　favor　if　we　decline　to　defend　her　chosen　city　in　its　hour　of　need？　Surely；　then；　we　never　would　hear　her　voice　again。〃
〃Mistress；〃　said　Viconia；　spreading　her　hands；　〃I　know　we　can　find　a　better　way　to　please　her　than　brawling　with　vermin　in　the　street。〃
Quenthel　lifted　her　hand　crossbow　and　shot　her　lieutenant　in　the　face。　Viconia　made　a　choking　sound　and　stumbled　backward。　The　poison　was　already　blackening　her　face　as　she　collapsed。
〃I　thought　I'd　already　demonstrated　that　/　rule　here；〃　the　Baenre　said。　〃Does　anyone　else　wish　to　contest　my　orders？〃
〃If　so；〃　Pharaun　said；　〃she　should　be　aware　that　I　stand　with　the　mistress；　and　I　have　the　power　to　scour　the　lot　of　you　from　the　face　of　the　plateau。〃
Ignoring　the　boastful　wizard；　Quenthel　surveyed　her　minions。　It　appeared　that　no　one　else　had　anything　much　to　say。
〃Good；〃　the　Baenre　said。　〃Let　us　rouse　the　tower　and　the　pyramid。〃
　
C　h　a　p　t　e　r
T　　W　　E　　N　　T　　Y
TH｜R　　　EE
With　Quenthel　in　the　lead；　the　Academy　descended　from　Tier　Breche　like　a　great　waterfall。　Some　scholars　tramped　after　her　on　the　staircase；　while　others　floated　down　the　cliff　face。　A　few；　possessed　of　magic　that　enabled　them　to　fly；　flitted　about　like　bats。
〃Perhaps　Mistress　would　care　to　bide　a　moment；〃　said　Pharaun。　At　some　point　he　had　slipped　off　to　his　personal　quarters　long　enough　to　wash　his　face；　b　his　hair；　and　throw　on　a　new　set　of　handsome　clothes。　He　returned　alone；　still　claiming　ignorance　of　Gromph's　whereabouts。　〃This　is　as　good　a　spot　as　any　to　spy　out　the　la